A crucial aspect of the season just past was the form of goalkeeper, Fraser Forster. Fraser has been Celtic’s first choice goalkeeper since joining on loan from Newcastle United as a 22-year-old but his deal was only made permanent 11 months ago, when he was secured for a fee reported as £2m.
Now 25, the keeper has enjoyed a dream campaign. Celtic’s major achievements this season were winning the league and qualifying for the Champions League group stage, but for Fraser more than anyone else at the club, that night against Barcelona produced an outstanding personal performance. La Gran Muralla had arrived.
Now a regular member of the England international squad, Fraser is the identikit of what Celtic are about right now. Scout players with potential and provide them with the opportunity to mature to Champions League standard. The added bonus of picking Rangers International’s partner-investor, Sports Direct’s pocket makes the deal sweeter.
Fraser has it all: presence, fast reflexes and an instinct for angles, but the most important item in a keeper’s armoury is a relationship with a rock solid defence. Celtic demonstrated they could deliver on this front on Champions League duty, until they faced Juventus, but the picture has been far less convincing in the SPL.
The most striking aspect of Fraser is his sheer physical size. His 6’7” he fills the goal frame, considerably reducing the space between keeper and post at penalty kicks, which his stats are well above average for.
Fraser was disappointed not to be included in the England squad for friendly games against Ireland and Brazil over the next week but Roy Hodgson will be mindful that Celtic have a shorter summer break than any other club he will be following, and Fraser will need some break-time before preseason starts in around three weeks. This is good squad management. The keeper is likely to make his full England debut as his country prepare for the 2014 World Cup, leading to a whole raft of revised comments on the Scottish game.
Have you bought a raffle ticket for the framed Celtic top signed by the Seville squad? It costs you £1, or £10 for 10!! All to benefit the 125415 campaign, aligning Celtic with our 125-year-old heritage.
Not only that, but………….
We have a framed Messi top signed by the great player who was able to breach La Gran Muralla after 183 minutes trying, available for auction. It’s not often you can buy such a memento of the world’s greatest footballer, and help Celtic charities too.
The Seville strip raffle closes on Friday but you have until Monday to bid on the Messi auction.
Willie Wallace, Heart of a Lion, available below.
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quantum,
there
quantum,
There is some sort of regional grouping used in Q2 so we will get a team reasonably close to home from that list
Has anyone identified “Pink Tie Man” from Saturday.
Hail (hail)?!
The first of the two passages from Saint Luke’s Gospel is the greeting of the Angel Gabriel to Mary, originally written in Koine Greek. The opening word of greeting, χαῖρε, chaíre, here translated “Hail,” literally has the meaning “rejoice” or “be glad.” This was the normal greeting in the language in which Saint Luke’s Gospel is written and continues to be used in the same sense in Modern Greek. Accordingly, both “Hail” and “Rejoice” are valid English translations of the word (“Hail” reflecting the Latin translation, and “Rejoice” reflecting the original Greek).
So there you have it!
‘Rejoice rejoice!!’
‘Be glad be glad!’
‘Hail hail!’
HH!!
La Gran Muralla, ‘Il grande muro’ ,or even an balla mór not pretty but does the job
(MAB whohasn’t had a glazier’s bill in 11yrs)
So Fraser is 25 and so is Gary Hooper.
Henrik was 26 i think when he came to us.
Their best years are ahead of them i hope its with Celtic
Gordon_J backing Neil Lennon
13:17 on
28 May, 2013
quantum,
There is some sort of regional grouping used in Q2 so we will get a team reasonably close to home from that list
Quote from Bert Kassis website : So yep looks like some sort of regional grouping
Although the regulations no longer require the use of regional groups (as used before 2009), UEFA still uses some kind of regionalization in CL-Q2 and EL-Q1. At first the clubs are divided into seeded and unseeded teams, and then the seeded and unseeded teams are split into regional groups. The general approach seems to use the North/Central/South scheme, but no specific rules are known.
Do keepers really need the same break as outfield players? The rest of the population (if they’re lucky and are not teachers) get 2 weeks break to recharge the batteries in summer.
I don’t think Fraser needs the same break, but maybe I’m wrong and all that specialised training is just as punishing?
Think if he had the choice Fraser would choose England squad over Tennerife?
HH
Has anyone identified “Pink Tie Man” from Saturday.
Sorry its my age starting to have effect….Saturday should be Sunday!!!
There is a very good chance that we will be drawn against either Sligo Rovers or Cliftonville in Q2.
HH!!
By my reckoning last season Celtic played 58 competitive matches in 10 months. If we achieve the same results next year as this season we will be playing 60 games. Considering our high injury rate what size of squad will we need next year? More importantly we need squad players that will be able to walk into the first 11. I know every year we ask for the “dead wood” and fringe players to be shifted out but I certainly think that it become more important.
POTY Kris Commons
Ypoty Vic
Young Celtic fan was murdered at the School St car park in Whifflet on Saturday morning. The L O L are due to kick off from here on the 6th of July. I wonder if they will show some respect and kick off from somewhere else?
Pink Tie Man could just be a sad Hibbee?
The wider shots show the left hand side of the stairs clapping like mad whilst the right hand side is very sporadic indicating a ‘team’ split in allocation? Behind Pink Tie Man is a ragin’ white t-shirt man gesticulating for all he’s worth at the cup lifters.
Even if we don’t know him, everyone that does and everyone he does business with will now know him as the guy offering the w****r gesture at the Scottish Cup Final Presentation.
What a w****r!!
Halal Halal!
Jude
What are you the patron saint of again?? :-)
POTY: Big Sammi
YPOTY: Big Vic
HH
Martinez leaving Wigan.
googybhoy
Does he have a single or a return?
HH
From football365.com:
Top Ten Worst Premier League Regulars
We haven’t just plucked this list out of thin air – hence, there’s no Emmanuel Adebayor or Antonio Valencia – but instead we’ve looked at the stats on WhoScored.com……….
6) Marc-Antoine Fortuné (West Brom)
Ah, another striker who has ‘no significant strengths’. And another player whose marks were marred by a ridiculous red card late in the season. It’s no fun being the fourth-choice striker at West Brom and Fortune may not hold even that dubious honour next season as his contract expires this summer. It’s not simply that the Frenchman has not had a chance to prove himself this season – one rare start against Fulham saw him substituted at half-time after he contrived to lose the ball five times purely from a poor touch.
Googy
Has Lenny been linked with the job yet….. He will probably by wee chris or Ragman
Flowers laid at the grave of Neil McCallum in Bonhill church..first goal scorer of the first Celtic X1..a special thanks to rev.Millar,if it wasn’t for him he may never would have been found h.h
tommysbhoy
I’m not long back after laying flowers at Neil’s grave. Must have just missed you.
suuuppeeerrr jjoooee lleedddllleeyyy 3-0
game
over. scottish cup is on its way to Paradise.
HH
POTY: Fraser Foster
YPOTY: Victor Wanyama
Just thought I’d share a small little family story thats of no consequence to anyone but me. I have an 8 yr old grand-daughter who like lots of kids loves to make her own cards for birthdays Christmas etc. Just before kick off on Sunday she presented me with a “Good Luck Celtic” card. It featured a drawing of a “footballer” in a Hooped jersey. A little Green & White bow glued on to the front and a message saying Good Luck Celtic, Win the Cup for my Grandad. Must say I was choked, clever little girl has guaranteed herself treats for a month.
Talking to my son for over an hour last night.He worked as a doorman in FUBAR in Stirling while at the university there.Also worked at their places in Falkirk and Edinburgh.Not being a football follower, he didn’t know about the SNP’s football”Bill” and its attempt to smear Celtic supporters in particular. I mentioned the loss of the sectarian crime statistics.He told me that was nonsense,since each category of crime has a significant dedicated number, and the data is backed-up so much it would be impossible to lose.His take on the Celtic/Oldco supporters?—99% of trouble was caused by the arrogance of Deidco followers. Usually, he added, when they outnumbered doormen at least 10 to 1. The Celtic guys were usually pished and singing, but stopped if they were asked. Funny that, isn’t it?
row z – let celtic flourish by the cleansing of the ‘den!
13:43 on 28 May, 2013
googybhoy
Does he have a single or a return?
HH
………..,,
You would never want a return from Wigan honest.
POTY Kelvin Wilson
YPOTY big Vic
che
13:45 on 28 May, 2013
Googy
Has Lenny been linked with the job yet….. He will probably by wee chris or Ragman
………………..
I am sure he will be. Maybe being interviewed for the Stoke job.
Well done to her and yourself Corkcelt my auld mate, had a great day of partying and celebrating and had the cure yesterday! My bhoy sent me a drawing of Vics goal v barca at CP for my birthday, we were both there sitting next to each other hugging and screaming and me greeting, he’s 14 and we both will never forget that day. Love to you n yours..
Kikinthenakas
Has Nicolás Ladislao Fedor Flores left the building?
Row z- hope it’s a single to Everton,i’ve got him at 10/1,best price currently 1/2.
quantum at 13:08 on 28 May, 2013
“List of the unseeded teams that celtic may draw in the second round of the CL. Celtic’s coefficient is 37.53 points
Hafnarfjardar Isl 4.083”
Are they managed by Finbar Saunders?
FJIW 13:30 on 28 May, 2013
Has anyone identified “Pink Tie Man” from Saturday.
Sorry its my age starting to have effect….Saturday should be Sunday!!!
———
Mr Byrite, apparently.
Read about your party, kikinthenakas I’d say it was some craic. I’m afraid there is no way I could keep up with ye lot in the drinking stakes. I’d be dead within a month. Nice hearing from you pal. Hail Hail
BRTH did you get a ticket for the game? I had one for you but you did,nt reurn my calls,hope you got sorted. Hail Hail Hebcelt
rerun=return
Eldiegobhoy
i must have just..was hoping to be there at 12:30but by the time i got to the florist with my wee daughter and walked back to car park then drove round it was just after 1pm ..met a non cqner there with his girlfriend and gave him the spiel on the grave and Neil..hope to get to willie maleys later h.h
HarryM
one rare start against Fulham saw him substituted at half-time after he contrived to lose the ball five times purely from a poor touch.
Must have been one hell of a poor touch to lost the ball 5 times!!!
Fortuné wasn’t the worst I’ve ever seen but not a main goalscorer.
Mort
Corky
That’s what its all about…. family first… celtic a close second.
Jelly and ice cream again ,)